As the UK and US celebrate Womens Enterprise Day today (17 Nov), it seems like a good opportunity to celebrate women in business and highlight the need for more support for female entrepreneurship. When we started Active Marketing & Design in 2006, we were fortunate to benefit from start-up help from organisations like the Womens Enterprise, Education and Training Union (WEETU) and Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE), but their resources are sadly limited by continued funding cuts. Other organisations like Enterprising Women have offered free business support to women in Norfolk in the past but now charge an annual membership fee. As part of Women in Rural Enterprise, we were recently invited to make a representation to the Enterprise Minister, Mark Prisk MP, to showcase the success of women in business and highlight the types of support that we need from organisations such as WiRE.
According to BERR statistics, only 15% of the UK's 4.7 million enterprises are female-led. With commentators suggesting that public sector redundancies will hit women hardest as their (commonly) part time roles are first to be axed, this presents an excellent opportunity for women to start up a business with the right support. In my experience, women starting up in business need significant support to boost their confidence and encourage them to take the plunge. One to one advice, training and networking certainly helped us to believe in our abilities to run our marketing company. In the long term, female-led businesses are often more sustainable as we tend to have more conservative ambitions for growth and therefore are less likely to risk losing it all in the pursuit of financial success. Yet it is very difficult to quantify and recognise the contribution to the economy of the numerous female-owned microbusinesses, especially if they are home-based and fall beneath the VAT threshold.
We have supported a number of Norfolk's female-owned businesses to start up and grow through marketing activities such as branding, web design and advertising. Some examples of our successful female clients include:
Igloo Shoes
Karen Eason
Dare To Fly
Care Motoring
Adepta
The Retreat
Make it Count
We have to keep highlighting the importance of female entrepreneurship and can only hope that our current Government will recognise the importance of supporting women to make the first steps into business as part of the bigger economic picture.
Active Marketing & Design is a full service marketing & design company with offices in West Norfolk & Broadland. We specialise in supporting growing businesses in the rural economy through high impact design for print, cost-effective social media strategy & web design.
Wednesday 17 November 2010
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Social Media for Rural Businesses
I was interested to read in the Eastern Daily Press Business Supplement today of a survey regarding small business use of social media which claimed only 6pc of businesses in the East describe social media as very useful in their business. I deliver a number of workshops and presentations across East Anglia outlining the business benefits of social media which are regularly over-subscribed, clearly indicating a thirst for knowledge of this evolving technology among the Norfolk small business community.
I was disappointed with the generalisations made by the survey authors - Forum of Private Business - that social media is "less likely to benefit" rural businesses such as those in farming. In my experience the online communities of Twitter, Facebook, Linked In et al are extremely powerful tools for combating rural isolation and allowing geographically disparate business people to communicate in a virtual space. My recent Twitter clients include an equestrian public relations consultant in the Kent countryside and a marketing consultant in the Pennines for example. I first heard about social media at the Women in Rural Enterprise annual conference 2 years ago and the one hour workshop was packed with women from the countryside keen to learn more about this "new" technology. At a recent Rural Business Showcase with Mark Prisk MP (organised by the same superb womens business organisation), all six of the businesswomen invited to attend were regular tweeters.
While we would all benefit from faster broadband speeds in rural areas to allow us to effectively share some of the rich social media content like video, we can effectively use many social media channels despite our poor connection speeds or weak mobile phone signal.
To achieve value from any form of marketing activity (social media included) you must enter the exercise with clear aims and objectives, plus strict rules on customer targeting and avoiding diversions. Using this approach, I have gained valuable new marketing and design clients through Twitter alone, and I know that other rural businesses could benefit by marketing in the same way.
Some excellent rural tweeters:
@breckland
@brays_cottage
@yours2share
@pennylindop
@stonemejeweller
@growingdirect
@RS_Tor
@equineman01
@moobaacluck
I was disappointed with the generalisations made by the survey authors - Forum of Private Business - that social media is "less likely to benefit" rural businesses such as those in farming. In my experience the online communities of Twitter, Facebook, Linked In et al are extremely powerful tools for combating rural isolation and allowing geographically disparate business people to communicate in a virtual space. My recent Twitter clients include an equestrian public relations consultant in the Kent countryside and a marketing consultant in the Pennines for example. I first heard about social media at the Women in Rural Enterprise annual conference 2 years ago and the one hour workshop was packed with women from the countryside keen to learn more about this "new" technology. At a recent Rural Business Showcase with Mark Prisk MP (organised by the same superb womens business organisation), all six of the businesswomen invited to attend were regular tweeters.
While we would all benefit from faster broadband speeds in rural areas to allow us to effectively share some of the rich social media content like video, we can effectively use many social media channels despite our poor connection speeds or weak mobile phone signal.
To achieve value from any form of marketing activity (social media included) you must enter the exercise with clear aims and objectives, plus strict rules on customer targeting and avoiding diversions. Using this approach, I have gained valuable new marketing and design clients through Twitter alone, and I know that other rural businesses could benefit by marketing in the same way.
Some excellent rural tweeters:
@breckland
@brays_cottage
@yours2share
@pennylindop
@stonemejeweller
@growingdirect
@RS_Tor
@equineman01
@moobaacluck
Thursday 14 October 2010
Social Media Workshop for Beginners - Norwich
Mon 29th Nov.
Progress House, Plantation Park Sports Club, Blofield, Norfolk NR13 4PL
Duration: Half day (9.30am – 12.30pm)
Suitable for: Beginners
£40+ VAT per person (limited to 10)
Following my recent presentations and talks in and around Norwich about social media, its clear that there is a real thirst for further knowledge so we have introduced a basic social media workshop at beginner level to blow away some of the myths of social media.
This half day training course near Norwich is for anyone who is keen to learn the basics of online marketing and using social media to raise the profile of a business or organisation. Suitable for small business owners from across Norfolk, senior managers or staff with marketing responsibilities.
The rapid growth of the internet in recent years coupled with a surge of interest in social media has led many businesses to explore ways to use the diverse free resources available online to reach more customers. By the end of the course you should understand some of the basic principles of using effective online activity to benefit your business. If you are troubled by Twitter or frustrated with Facebook then this course is the ideal place to learn the basic principles of social media activity for business.
The course is delivered by a small business owner and marketing professional which gives the content a very practical, hands-on perspective. Delivered by a blend of presentation and practice online – to get the best out of the workshop a basic understanding of computer operation and internet browsing is useful.
Course Content
Introduction to social media and background
Social media usage – key statistics
Overview of key social media sites including Twitter and Linked In
Practical ideas for social media applications in business
Equipment
Please bring a (wi-fi enabled) laptop with you to enable interaction and participation. Please endeavour to open an account (free) with the following websites before attending the course:
www.twitter.com
www.linkedin.com
www.facebook.com
It will also be useful if you can bring a photo of yourself and a copy of your company’s logo on a memory stick or on your laptop if possible.
For further information or to book a place call 01603 716700
Progress House, Plantation Park Sports Club, Blofield, Norfolk NR13 4PL
Duration: Half day (9.30am – 12.30pm)
Suitable for: Beginners
£40+ VAT per person (limited to 10)
Following my recent presentations and talks in and around Norwich about social media, its clear that there is a real thirst for further knowledge so we have introduced a basic social media workshop at beginner level to blow away some of the myths of social media.
This half day training course near Norwich is for anyone who is keen to learn the basics of online marketing and using social media to raise the profile of a business or organisation. Suitable for small business owners from across Norfolk, senior managers or staff with marketing responsibilities.
The rapid growth of the internet in recent years coupled with a surge of interest in social media has led many businesses to explore ways to use the diverse free resources available online to reach more customers. By the end of the course you should understand some of the basic principles of using effective online activity to benefit your business. If you are troubled by Twitter or frustrated with Facebook then this course is the ideal place to learn the basic principles of social media activity for business.
The course is delivered by a small business owner and marketing professional which gives the content a very practical, hands-on perspective. Delivered by a blend of presentation and practice online – to get the best out of the workshop a basic understanding of computer operation and internet browsing is useful.
Course Content
Introduction to social media and background
Social media usage – key statistics
Overview of key social media sites including Twitter and Linked In
Practical ideas for social media applications in business
Equipment
Please bring a (wi-fi enabled) laptop with you to enable interaction and participation. Please endeavour to open an account (free) with the following websites before attending the course:
www.twitter.com
www.linkedin.com
www.facebook.com
It will also be useful if you can bring a photo of yourself and a copy of your company’s logo on a memory stick or on your laptop if possible.
For further information or to book a place call 01603 716700
Tuesday 12 October 2010
Marketing for Charities - Free training in Norwich
Monday 18th October
10am - 4pm
Voluntary Norfolk, Pottergate, Norwich
FREE*
Effective marketing is critical for charities and voluntary organisations in Norwich, especially in tough financial times when income may be reduced. Pro active marketing can help to raise the profile of your organisation which should have a direct impact upon income and also improve levels of awareness within the wider community. Marketing is often misunderstood and perceived by many to be a rather dark art, but there are some basic principles and theories which can be simply applied to many organisations with measurable results.
I will be delivering an introductory course about marketing for charities in Norwich which is fully funded (free!). By understanding some of the basic principles of marketing you should be able to evaluate your current marketing activities and identify areas for improvement.
The course will introduce some simple marketing concepts such as the marketing mix, market research and market segmentation, before providing practical examples of how you can apply these principles simply within your own organisation. It will look at both conventional marketing techniques such as printed marketing materials, and more modern approaches such as online (internet) marketing. The learning outcomes include:
· Gain a basic understanding of the key marketing principles
· Learn to recognise good and bad examples of marketing
· Evaluate current marketing activities and begin to formulate a marketing plan
This programme will also help organisations that are commissioning external marketing companies or web designers to ensure that they are receiving best value service.
As Marketing Director of Active Marketing & Design, I aim to bring a very practical perspective to this session, drawing upon live examples of my daily work to ensure that the content is very current. I have previously delivered marketing training to new business start ups through Broadland District Council and also have experience of the charity sector through a wide range of voluntary and employed roles. I was closely involved in the setting up of World Horse Welfare's £2m visitor centre at Snetterton, managing the visitor experience and delivering a programme of fundraising events. In 2010 I managed the marketing of Party in the Park, a large outdoor music event which raised £14000 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
* To book a free place on the Marketing for Charities course you must be living or working in Norfolk to be eligible for funding through the Seamless Support project (usual cost of the course £95 + vat per person). If you have already had fully funded, non-accredited training via SM Associates or Voluntary Norfolk in the past 6 months, you may not be eligible.
To book please telephone Clayton Anderson, Training Manager on 01603 762523 or email kim[at}sm-associates.org.uk
10am - 4pm
Voluntary Norfolk, Pottergate, Norwich
FREE*
Effective marketing is critical for charities and voluntary organisations in Norwich, especially in tough financial times when income may be reduced. Pro active marketing can help to raise the profile of your organisation which should have a direct impact upon income and also improve levels of awareness within the wider community. Marketing is often misunderstood and perceived by many to be a rather dark art, but there are some basic principles and theories which can be simply applied to many organisations with measurable results.
I will be delivering an introductory course about marketing for charities in Norwich which is fully funded (free!). By understanding some of the basic principles of marketing you should be able to evaluate your current marketing activities and identify areas for improvement.
The course will introduce some simple marketing concepts such as the marketing mix, market research and market segmentation, before providing practical examples of how you can apply these principles simply within your own organisation. It will look at both conventional marketing techniques such as printed marketing materials, and more modern approaches such as online (internet) marketing. The learning outcomes include:
· Gain a basic understanding of the key marketing principles
· Learn to recognise good and bad examples of marketing
· Evaluate current marketing activities and begin to formulate a marketing plan
This programme will also help organisations that are commissioning external marketing companies or web designers to ensure that they are receiving best value service.
As Marketing Director of Active Marketing & Design, I aim to bring a very practical perspective to this session, drawing upon live examples of my daily work to ensure that the content is very current. I have previously delivered marketing training to new business start ups through Broadland District Council and also have experience of the charity sector through a wide range of voluntary and employed roles. I was closely involved in the setting up of World Horse Welfare's £2m visitor centre at Snetterton, managing the visitor experience and delivering a programme of fundraising events. In 2010 I managed the marketing of Party in the Park, a large outdoor music event which raised £14000 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
* To book a free place on the Marketing for Charities course you must be living or working in Norfolk to be eligible for funding through the Seamless Support project (usual cost of the course £95 + vat per person). If you have already had fully funded, non-accredited training via SM Associates or Voluntary Norfolk in the past 6 months, you may not be eligible.
To book please telephone Clayton Anderson, Training Manager on 01603 762523 or email kim[at}sm-associates.org.uk
Tuesday 7 September 2010
Confused about colour?
We are currently working on an interesting brand refinement exercise for a Norwich organisation and it has highlighted a question about colour matching that I thought might be useful if I explained a little. This client is keen to match the colour on their website with the colour in their printed materials. Not as easy as you may think....!
There are three different ways of making colours that we come across in our graphic design work for Norfolk businesses.
CMYK - This is the process used most commonly in printed documents to make a colour. In essence it involves mixing variable quantities of cyan, yellow, magenta and black ink to produce the final colour.
RGB - This is the process used in screens such as televisions or computer monitors, so it is predominant in web design. It involves mixing red, green and blue pigments to produce the colour. RGB colours tend to look more vibrant because they are projected on a screen rather than a flat piece of paper.
Pantone - This is an alternative way to produce a colour in print and involves using one of a large number of unique, individual inks to ensure an accurate colour match time and again. These inks are referenced in a pantone book which all good graphic designers should refer to - these books alone cost in the region of £200! Using a pantone colour is often referred to as printing in spot colour.
If you are using CMYK then there is still some room for error as one printer may print heavier on colour than another printer. The best way to safeguard against this is to ensure that you always have a high resolution printers proof to cross check colours against before you proceed with a full print run. Pantone is the safest option for ensuring consistent colour which is key to consistent branding, but you will pay a premium for it. Even then, there is scope for the substrate material (eg paper, vinyl etc) to affect the final shade and the addition of a gloss or matt laminate can also impact upon the tone of the colours too.
Top tip for consistent colour: Print as many documents as possible on the same print run to improve colour consistency. If you are having folders produced for example, run some business cards at the same time on the same card so that the colour matches consistently when they are inserted. This will also save on print costs.
There are three different ways of making colours that we come across in our graphic design work for Norfolk businesses.
CMYK - This is the process used most commonly in printed documents to make a colour. In essence it involves mixing variable quantities of cyan, yellow, magenta and black ink to produce the final colour.
RGB - This is the process used in screens such as televisions or computer monitors, so it is predominant in web design. It involves mixing red, green and blue pigments to produce the colour. RGB colours tend to look more vibrant because they are projected on a screen rather than a flat piece of paper.
Pantone - This is an alternative way to produce a colour in print and involves using one of a large number of unique, individual inks to ensure an accurate colour match time and again. These inks are referenced in a pantone book which all good graphic designers should refer to - these books alone cost in the region of £200! Using a pantone colour is often referred to as printing in spot colour.
If you are using CMYK then there is still some room for error as one printer may print heavier on colour than another printer. The best way to safeguard against this is to ensure that you always have a high resolution printers proof to cross check colours against before you proceed with a full print run. Pantone is the safest option for ensuring consistent colour which is key to consistent branding, but you will pay a premium for it. Even then, there is scope for the substrate material (eg paper, vinyl etc) to affect the final shade and the addition of a gloss or matt laminate can also impact upon the tone of the colours too.
Top tip for consistent colour: Print as many documents as possible on the same print run to improve colour consistency. If you are having folders produced for example, run some business cards at the same time on the same card so that the colour matches consistently when they are inserted. This will also save on print costs.
Monday 6 September 2010
10 low cost marketing ideas for independent retailers
As part of a presentation to the Norwich Lanes group of independent retailers, I came up with 10 marketing ideas which any small independent retailer (or other business) can simply implement to improve the marketing of a small business. These are focused on marketing for small independent businesses in Norwich but they could be easily adapted for other locations.
1. Give away free samples
Easy if you are a food outlet – simply stand on the street corner with a tray of bite size samples of the food that you make and start wafting them in the face of passers by. Slightly more complex if your products aren’t edible – talk to your suppliers about sample size packs of their products.
COST: Free - Cost of product only
2. Take a look at your kerb appeal
Poor “curb appeal” can put even the most dedicated customer off entering your shop. Even in Summer, you need to make effective use of good lighting to make sure that your shop looks open and welcoming from the outside. Something as simple as a sticky door can send a perfectly good customer away – get your WD40 out and if weather permits, leave your door open. Pick up a tin of paint and smarten up your exterior or perk up your sign. If you can’t stretch to buying a tin of paint, try Freecycle or your dad’s shed.
COST: Free if you beg, borrow or steal the paint!
3. Work on your window display
Attractive merchandising can make a massive difference to the impact of your window display. Makes sure that you change it regularly, in line with the seasons or to highlight new product ranges for example. Rotate items in the window to avoid sunlight damage and to attract the interest of regular passers by. Keep an eye out for dummies or props in local charity shops or ask your suppliers about professional point of sale display equipment such as racks or banners that they can supply you with.
COST: Free with some creativity!
4. Know your customers
Marketing is all about selling stuff that your customers want to buy – simple! Talk to them! Find out where they come from, why they visit you, what else they would like to buy from you and so on. Go one step further and ask for their contact details (postal or email address) so that you can mail them directly with news about special offers, new products and so on. Use a monthly competition as an incentive (cover) for people to part with their contact details. Use address finding software available online so that you don’t need to get their full address, just a house number and postcode.
COST: Free
5. Build customer loyalty
In simple terms, you can build customer loyalty simply by looking after your customers well and always focusing on excellent customer service. Changing your range of products or just your window display on a regular basis will also encourage regular customers to pop back in. To incentivise customer loyalty, set up a simple loyalty scheme using a basic postcard or business card for them to collect “stamps”. After multiple purchases, reward loyal customers with a free cup of coffee or discount voucher etc.
COST: <£100
6. Shout about your expertise
Expertise and advice is one of the key selling points for independent retailers. Use it to leverage more customers away from larger chain stores who offer little expertise in customer service. Enhance the message by running workshops, speaking to groups or getting involved in special events that further distinguish your offer for example a restaurant could participate in the Norwich Wine Festival to show that they have a real interest in good wines.
COST: FREE
7. Engage with existing customers
Engagement is a key word in modern marketing - get your customers involved in your business so that they feel a part of it. Ask them to help you to choose your new product range by welcoming suggestions for new products. Use a customer newsletter (email or printed) to share expertise and further engage with your customers and their lifestyle. A newsletter might include:
Top tip or fashion trend (with illustrated example from your shop ideally)
Info about events in the Lanes, diary dates
Latest news from the shop – new product ranges with pics
Staff news/updates
Topical national news that can be adapted to your shop eg BBC2 Queen of Shops programme
Seasonal news (eg Christmas products, Summer etc)
Contact information
Discount voucher or special offer
COST: Basic e-newsletter <£50 - more professional options around £150
8. Use social media
Social media provides a wide range of opportunities to promote your message via the internet and is a lot more localised than you might expect so it definitely has value for local businesses. Most of it is free too which is great, though it can be costly in terms of time! Use a Facebook business page to reach your customers – post photos of products, updates from in store and news. Twitter is a popular choice for broadcasting short sales messages and engaging in conversation. This is where a lot of people go to seek advice as well so if you are in on the conversation then you can help people and this helpfulness is a key principle of online brand building.
COST: Free (time only)
9. Get in the news
Look for free publicity opportunities in your target media – local newspapers or BBC Radio Norfolk are a great place to start. Read and listen and look for opportunities to get involved by approaching them about new products or interesting news that you think will interest their readers. This type of publicity is free but again can be time intensive. Use the seasons or national events - a Norwich fish & chip shop might use National Chip Week to hang a story from - and start building relationships with local journalists.
COST: Free
10. Its nice in the niche
Be clear about your unique selling points (USPs) and carve your niche carefully. Too narrow and there may not be enough customers to sustain you but too broad and customers wont understand what you stand for or what they can buy from you. This includes keeping your product range tight and “on topic” – be very ruthless with product ranges and don’t let it all get too vague. By all means be creative and diversify but make sure that there is always some logic behind your product choices. Think carefully about your customers and ensure that they would be interested in most/all of your range.
COST: Free
1. Give away free samples
Easy if you are a food outlet – simply stand on the street corner with a tray of bite size samples of the food that you make and start wafting them in the face of passers by. Slightly more complex if your products aren’t edible – talk to your suppliers about sample size packs of their products.
COST: Free - Cost of product only
2. Take a look at your kerb appeal
Poor “curb appeal” can put even the most dedicated customer off entering your shop. Even in Summer, you need to make effective use of good lighting to make sure that your shop looks open and welcoming from the outside. Something as simple as a sticky door can send a perfectly good customer away – get your WD40 out and if weather permits, leave your door open. Pick up a tin of paint and smarten up your exterior or perk up your sign. If you can’t stretch to buying a tin of paint, try Freecycle or your dad’s shed.
COST: Free if you beg, borrow or steal the paint!
3. Work on your window display
Attractive merchandising can make a massive difference to the impact of your window display. Makes sure that you change it regularly, in line with the seasons or to highlight new product ranges for example. Rotate items in the window to avoid sunlight damage and to attract the interest of regular passers by. Keep an eye out for dummies or props in local charity shops or ask your suppliers about professional point of sale display equipment such as racks or banners that they can supply you with.
COST: Free with some creativity!
4. Know your customers
Marketing is all about selling stuff that your customers want to buy – simple! Talk to them! Find out where they come from, why they visit you, what else they would like to buy from you and so on. Go one step further and ask for their contact details (postal or email address) so that you can mail them directly with news about special offers, new products and so on. Use a monthly competition as an incentive (cover) for people to part with their contact details. Use address finding software available online so that you don’t need to get their full address, just a house number and postcode.
COST: Free
5. Build customer loyalty
In simple terms, you can build customer loyalty simply by looking after your customers well and always focusing on excellent customer service. Changing your range of products or just your window display on a regular basis will also encourage regular customers to pop back in. To incentivise customer loyalty, set up a simple loyalty scheme using a basic postcard or business card for them to collect “stamps”. After multiple purchases, reward loyal customers with a free cup of coffee or discount voucher etc.
COST: <£100
6. Shout about your expertise
Expertise and advice is one of the key selling points for independent retailers. Use it to leverage more customers away from larger chain stores who offer little expertise in customer service. Enhance the message by running workshops, speaking to groups or getting involved in special events that further distinguish your offer for example a restaurant could participate in the Norwich Wine Festival to show that they have a real interest in good wines.
COST: FREE
7. Engage with existing customers
Engagement is a key word in modern marketing - get your customers involved in your business so that they feel a part of it. Ask them to help you to choose your new product range by welcoming suggestions for new products. Use a customer newsletter (email or printed) to share expertise and further engage with your customers and their lifestyle. A newsletter might include:
Top tip or fashion trend (with illustrated example from your shop ideally)
Info about events in the Lanes, diary dates
Latest news from the shop – new product ranges with pics
Staff news/updates
Topical national news that can be adapted to your shop eg BBC2 Queen of Shops programme
Seasonal news (eg Christmas products, Summer etc)
Contact information
Discount voucher or special offer
COST: Basic e-newsletter <£50 - more professional options around £150
8. Use social media
Social media provides a wide range of opportunities to promote your message via the internet and is a lot more localised than you might expect so it definitely has value for local businesses. Most of it is free too which is great, though it can be costly in terms of time! Use a Facebook business page to reach your customers – post photos of products, updates from in store and news. Twitter is a popular choice for broadcasting short sales messages and engaging in conversation. This is where a lot of people go to seek advice as well so if you are in on the conversation then you can help people and this helpfulness is a key principle of online brand building.
COST: Free (time only)
9. Get in the news
Look for free publicity opportunities in your target media – local newspapers or BBC Radio Norfolk are a great place to start. Read and listen and look for opportunities to get involved by approaching them about new products or interesting news that you think will interest their readers. This type of publicity is free but again can be time intensive. Use the seasons or national events - a Norwich fish & chip shop might use National Chip Week to hang a story from - and start building relationships with local journalists.
COST: Free
10. Its nice in the niche
Be clear about your unique selling points (USPs) and carve your niche carefully. Too narrow and there may not be enough customers to sustain you but too broad and customers wont understand what you stand for or what they can buy from you. This includes keeping your product range tight and “on topic” – be very ruthless with product ranges and don’t let it all get too vague. By all means be creative and diversify but make sure that there is always some logic behind your product choices. Think carefully about your customers and ensure that they would be interested in most/all of your range.
COST: Free
Monday 16 August 2010
Making the most of social media
Getting started in social media can seem like a very daunting task - I am often asked for advice or tips on how to make the best use of this valuable marketing tool. Following on from my post translating Twitter terms, here are a few pointers to help you make the best use of your social media activity to raise the profile of your business:
* Watch & listen before you “speak” - you don't have to join the conversation straight away.
* Integrate with your current website - using links to your current website is crucial if you want to use social media to drive sales - www.bit.ly and www.tinyurl.com are great space saving link tools.
* Competitions and offers - use social media to publicise special offers or run a competition for everyone that shares or retweets (RT) your post.
* Encourage and engage conversation – it doesn't cost anything to be helpful but users will remember you for it.
* Market research - social media is a great place to get up to date with your industry and find out what your competitors are up to.
* Select your tone of voice – keep it consistent with your brand. That means you can't use frequent foul language if you work for a very straight corporate company.
* Don’t be too “salesy” – communicate not broadcast. People hate to be sold to on Twitter as much as they hate it elsewhere.
* Time-saving tools – Use applications like Hootsuite, Tweetdeck etc. to save time and schedule your activity
* Watch & listen before you “speak” - you don't have to join the conversation straight away.
* Integrate with your current website - using links to your current website is crucial if you want to use social media to drive sales - www.bit.ly and www.tinyurl.com are great space saving link tools.
* Competitions and offers - use social media to publicise special offers or run a competition for everyone that shares or retweets (RT) your post.
* Encourage and engage conversation – it doesn't cost anything to be helpful but users will remember you for it.
* Market research - social media is a great place to get up to date with your industry and find out what your competitors are up to.
* Select your tone of voice – keep it consistent with your brand. That means you can't use frequent foul language if you work for a very straight corporate company.
* Don’t be too “salesy” – communicate not broadcast. People hate to be sold to on Twitter as much as they hate it elsewhere.
* Time-saving tools – Use applications like Hootsuite, Tweetdeck etc. to save time and schedule your activity
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